US attorney general calls for identity theft safeguards

US Attorney General Eric Holder urged Congress on Monday to create rules that would require companies to quickly inform customers when their personal electronic data has been stolen. Holder’s call comes two months after Target, the second-largest US discount retailer, suffered a massive data breach that affected millions of customers. While authorities are working to track down those responsible for the Target hack, “it’s time for leaders in Washington to provide the tools we need to do even more: by requiring businesses to notify American consumers and law enforcement in the wake of significant data breaches,” Holder said in a video statement.